Liquid-extracting means



June 24, 1930. UT D 1,767,625

LIQUID EXTRACTING MEANS Filed Jan 27, 192 2 Sheets-Shec. 1

I N VEN TOR.

0595 3 61 YZmZnZ BYU g "N N,

June 24, 1930. U TODD 1,767,625

LIQUID EXTRACTING MEANS Filed Jan. 27, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fgu - INVENTOR. U lyses's [Zfibdd BY 0 W %zlsAT ORNEYS Patented June :24, 1930 u-mri-zn STATES. PATENT orrrog.

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, aocnns'rna, NEW YORK, a oonroaa'rron or new roux LIQUID-Ex'rnAc'rme mmns Application filed January 2?, 1926. Serial No. 84,047.

The present invention relates to liquid extracting means and'has' for one object to provide improved apparatus for extracting the oil of vanilla from the pulp of the vanilla bean and for extracting the oils, juices or esters from'other vegetable products, the apparatus being designed to thoroughly extract the entire .strength from the pulp withoutdisturbing or removing the pack or batch from the container. v

A further object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a liquid extracting a paratus embodying improved means for hol ing'and treating the pulp of the beans or that of other material whereby to afford a more difi'used spread of the percolating liquid and to reduce the time required for the extracting process, as well as to secure the maximum amount of liquid from a given quantity of pulp. f A further object is to provide an apparatus of the class described embodying a combined vacuum-pressure system by which a more thorough extraction of the vanilla or other liquid is afforded and by which the cost of producing the extract is reduced to a minimum.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certainimprovements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more 9 fully described, the novel I. features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. t

In the drawings t a I Figure 1 is a sideelevation illustratlng one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the same Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken centrally throu h't-he tank shown in Figure 1 Figure 4 ,1s a detailed sectional elevatlon through the pulp holding container, and

Figure 5 is a sectional plan taken on} line -"5 ---5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view of the stralner. 7 Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Heret ofore in obtaining flavoring extracts from difierent materials, such, as vanilla \beans and the like, it has been customary to place the. pulp in a container and circulate the liquid therethrough in the ordinary way without the employment of means by which the process of extraction is made .thorough or complete and without providing means for reducing the time required for'the extracting operations, or Without preventing loss through evaporation. In the present invention the combined pressure-vacuum system afi'ords an improved process by which the time of'operationis greatly reduced and the quantity of the extract from a given batch of pulp increased whereby a saving is effected in both ways. In the old process agreat deal of time is required and several operations are necessary to obtain anything like the full strength from a given batch or quantity of the pulp while in the present instance only one operation is necessary which requires less time and trouble to complete, producing a higher percentage of extraction than is ordinarily obtained.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a tank or casing adapted to be supported in any desired manner, preferably with the tank and adapted to support it at the desired height. The tank is provided at its upper end with an outwardly extending flange 12 carrying a gasket 13 upon which rests the annular flange 14 of the pulp container or basket 15 shown in section in Figure 4. A cover'16 is provided for the tank which carries a gasket 17 adapted to seat upon the top of the basket flange 14 as shown in Figure 3, this arrangement serving to afford a liquid or fluid tight joint'to revent the escape of the fluid from the tan The cover or closure 16 is preferably hinged u on the tankthrough the medium of a pair of. aterally projecting arms '18 which are pivoted at 19 to. a pairo upstanding brackets 20 connected with the tank in any suitable manner.

A plurality of clamping devices 21 is employed, only one of which is shown, for tight ly clamping the cover upon the tank, said de 'vices being constructed in any desired manpreferably made so as to be-quickly y theinclined legs 11 which are suitably connected basket preferably by riveting and having its horizontal flange extended inwardly to receive the foraminous or perforated bottom plate 22 as shown in Figure 4. This plate-is provided with relatively small and closely v positionedperforations preferably, disposed over the entire area of the plate for the escape of the liquid or menstruum percolating through the pulp 23. The foraminous bottom preferably includes a wire screen 24 of relatively fine mesh which is disposed upon a the bottomplate as shown in Figure 4. The

i pulp is preferably separated into two or'more v batches by a suitable screen 25 of closely ,of arched supports o conditions of operation. This means preferably comprises a pair ofreinforcing bars 28 and 29 disposed beneath the late at right angles one to another, the bars eing notched centrally to permit their upper faces to lie in a common plane adjacent the bottom surface ofthe plate 22. The bars are suitably connected at their outer ends with the'inwardl extending flan e of the angle iron 21 whic extends entire y around the base of the basket. The bars are supported at their cencomprising a pair angular construction, the outer extremities of each resting upon the screen 24 immediately over the inwardl extending flange of the angle iron 21 where y-the pressure 1s transferred directly to the side walls of the basket. The arched ters by a frame preferablg v supports lie adjacent eachother at the center of the basket and extended over thesame and downwardly throu h the bottom plate and through the screen t ereon is a U- bolt 31 carrying at its lowerend a connecting-plate 32 englagin the bars 28 and 29 on the underside t ereo The;-U-bolt therefore forms a direct support for the bottom. late, being in turn supportedbythearche members 30, as sh The, liquidem loyed in' the extracting I processv is prefera l'y'supplied to the basket when thejlatter is positioned within thetaxik.

and beforetheclosure 16 is clampedqinposi nouns-Water is pref erabl lie- 0x5 an'dgnay, I *tozth'e container through' a'h'ose or ui the. circulating sy'etemof .thelpum i A motor-33 or other mama provided for same being infithe'hand whee 56', p

electric light, not p withinthe u'pperchax'nber 27 and isjsupport-. L- ed by a fixture 59 v observation glass) is carried-by the closure which is connectedwith the bottom of'the tank through a conduit 35 and a detachable connection'36 as shown in Figure 1. The outlet side of the pump is connected with the top of the tank through the vertical and horizontal pipes 37 and 38, respectively, and a short connection'39 from which-is dependingly supplorted a rotary spray element 40 of any we knowndesign'which is adapted to be driven in the usual manner by the pressure of the liquid passing therethrough, the rotor being provided wlth' the usual discharge ports or perforations as indicated at 41. The connection 39 is rendered readily detachable by turning the nut 42 which is made relatively large so that it can be gripped by the hand and unscrewed without the use of a wrench or other tool. When this has been done the pipe 38 can'be swung to one side topermit the cover to swing upwardly upon its hinges so-that the basket can be removed, emptied and replaced ,with a fresh i batch of the pulp. However,' before raising the cover the short pipe 43' with which is connected the relief valve,44' must be detached from'the connection 45 carried b a fixed connection 45 on-the cover 16. epipe 43 can be readily disconnected by gripping the hand'nut 46 and turning it in the roper direction, after which the pipe 43 can he swung to one side By turning it about the also adapted to conn :the relief valve with axis of the vertical sggtion pipe 47 e which is the tank at a point below the basket, preferably with the upper end of the suction chamber 27". The purpose of .the pipe 47 an'dthe relief valve 44 is to afford abypass. for the liquid in the event that the basket becomes so tightly packed as to build up excessive pressure which would be suflicient to burst the backet orotherwise destroy its effectiveness,

it being understood that the relief valve can be set to operate at any desired ornpredetermined pressure.-

A suction pipe is also disposed at the o posite side of t e tank as in icated-at 50, t connected with .the'lower suction ipe 35 and with the top of the chamber 27" y a connection 51 and being detachable therefrom by turning the hand nut The pipe 50 is provided with a regulating or cutoutevalve 53-operable by means" of the handle 54- and the pipe 35, is providedwith a-valve 55 adapted to be 0 ened and closed by turnhe' suction pipe 5Q is pxrovided'with a. vacuum gauge 57 by whic thezegtent-Of vacuum-in the chamber 27fisindicpted, while the ,pres'surepi 38'is provided with a pres- 58 or indicating .the pre'ssure in upp"er-.= chamber 27 shown, is;'

showni nsFigm-e 2. An

- 16 so that the action of the liquid may be ob y to the relief valve 44 a relatively fine mesh to permit the through.

strainer 62 is dependingly carried by the fixed connection 45 of the cover as'shown in Figure 3. v a

' A steam coil 63 or other desirable means for heating the accumulated liquid in the chamber27 atthe desired time may be provided and the coil may be placed in connection with a suitable steam supply source through the inlet and outlet connections 64 and 65 in the side of the tank, or the casing 10 may be steam jacketed.

' A filtering device 66 of any suitable type is provided in the bottom ofthe tank and is preferably connected with the discharge pipe '36 as shown in Figure 3, whereby all of the liquid circulated by the pump is thoroughly filtered before leaving the tank. The filtering device comprises a container having therein porous or granulated material 66 adapted passage of air and liquid there- A thermometer 67 is provided adjacent the bottom of the tank for indicating the temperature of the liquid in the .lower chamber 27, the bulb thereof being indicated at 68.

In the operation of the percolator the basket is packed with the finely ground pulp of the vanilla bean or other material, and is then placed in position, after which the cover is closed and clamped on and the pipes'38 and 43 connected as shown in Figure 1. The desired amount of liquid having been previously added to the opened and t e circulating I pump started. The liquid is drawn out through valve 55 by the suction of the pump and lifted under pressure through the pipes 37 and 38 and discharged into the rotary spray element 40 which revolves and sprays the circulating liquid over the top of the pulp. The liquid percolates through the pulp downwardly into the collecting chamber 27 and completes the cycle. In these operations the ump builds up pressure on top of the pack w ich tends to increase circulation of the liquid through the pulp andat the same time the pump also produces a partial vacuum in the lower chamber thus tending to draw the liquid downwardly through the-pulp and the perforated bottom of the basket. The pressure in the upper chamber 27 can readily be determined by observing the gauge 58 while the extent of vacuum in the lower chamber willbe fess the heat may be applie the steam to afford the desired temperature ulp the valves 53 and 55 are indicated by thevv'acuum gauge 57. Should the pressure become excessive in the upper chamber, the valve 44 will automatically open and the pressurewill be relieved by establishing communication with the chamber below since the valve is connected with the suction chamber 27 through the pipe 47. When the pump draws a full volume of liquid the pres- .36. In this way the pressure may be reduced in the chamber above the pulp by increasing the suction in the pipes 50, 47 and 43 and at the same time the increased suction below the perforated bottom of the basket will have a tendency to increase the percolating action *of the liquid, thus compensating for the reduction of pressure in the upper chamber 27. After extracting the vanilla or other materials to the desired extent b the cold procand the process then continued. p

In the present process of extraction the liquid is completely enclosed, thereby eliminating loss of strength by evaporation. Furthermore, either the cold or hot process may be employed or both used without removing the pack or batch from the tank or' without disturbing the equipment in any way, whereby a more complete or thorough extraction of the strength is aflorded. The liquid may be removed from the apparatus through a suitable outlet valve not shown.

The basket being removable the same can be packed at any point most convenient to by turning on v the supply of the pulp, after which it may be inserted in the tank at will.

A further advantageis that the construction is such as to effect a seal between the container flange and the tankwhereby to close the compression chamber from the lower part of the tank to separate the action of the pressure on top from the vacuum underneath, thus affording a more effective process by avoiding channeling of the liquid or b passing between the wall of the tank and t e outer wall of the basket. Furthermore, the rotar spray element evenly distributes the liqui over the entire area of the pulp which insures circulation through all parts of the batch. By properly regulating the valves thedesired pressure and vacuum can be maintained on the o site sides of the basket, and the liquid W1 1 also be maintained at the desired level, thereby increasing the efi'ectiveness of the distribution of the liquid throu h the mass.

. sides of said container exceeds a predetertion is suchas to enable observation of the pereolatlon including distribution. of the 1qu1d over the mass thereby affording accurate control of the process.

I claim as my invention .1. In apparatus of the class described, a tank, a container therein adapted to hold a batch of pulp or the like, said container having a screen in its bottom for the escape of hquid from the pulp to the tank, a rotatable spraying element in the tank above the con-- tainer, means adapted both to deliver liquid under pressure to saidspraying element and to tend to produce suction in the tank below the container, and means by which reduction of the pressure is automatically efi'ected when the diflference' in pressure on the two mined limit. a 2. In apparatus of -the class described, a tank, a pulp holding/container therein having a foraminous bottom, a rotary spraying element adapted to operate above the pulp container, a filtering device below the container for the liquid circulating-therethrou h, a pump,-connections leadin from the fi tering device to the pump an from I the latter to said rotary spra ingdevice, and heating means for the liqui in the tank.

in the vacuum chamber and means-including 3'. In apparatus of the class described, a tank, :a pulp holdin container therein in-' eluding a perforate bottom, the container being connected withthe tank to form a com.-

presslon chamber above the pulp container from which liquid under pressure is permit- .ted to escape only through the pulp and the perforated bottom, a vacuum chamber. beneath the container, means for delivering aliquid under pressure to said compression chamber andfor tending to produce-suction Y anautomatic relief valve for connecting the esca only through the suction chamber with the pressure chamber under predetermined pressure in the latter.

4. In a paratus of the class described, a tank, a pu p holding container therein including a perforated bottom, the container being connectedwith the tank to form a compressi'on chamber above the pulp container from which liquid under pressure iri -permitted to plulpand the perfoa vacuum 0 amber beneath the ra bottom,

"container-{means for delivering a liquid.under pressure to said compression chamber and- -for tending to produce suction in the vacuum chamber, a relief valve and connections lead- I 5. Ini apparatusiof-ithe tainer liquidiinderpres'sure is pe to said compression chamber.

memes the liquid in the receiving chamber.

6'. In apparatus of the class described, a

tank, a pulp holding container therein including a perforated bottom, the container being connected with the tank to form a compression chamber above the pulp containerfrom which liquid under pressure is permitted to escape only through the pulp and the perforated bottom, a receiving chamber for the liquid below the container, a pump, a

suction pipe leading from the bottom of said receiving chamber to said pump, a connection leading from the pump to said compression chamber, a second suction pipe leading from the upper end of the receiving chamber to the first mentioned suction pipe, a valvein' each of said suction pipes whereby to vary the p I degree of suction applied above and below the liquid in the receiving chamber, a pipeleading from the upper end of the receiving chamher to said compression chamber, and a re- 4 lief valve interposed in said pipe.

tank having an annular flange formed on its upper end, a pulp holding container disposed within the tank and provided with a perfo- 7. In apparatus ofthe class described, a I

rated bottom and having a flange seated upon said tank flange, a removab e closure for the tank resting upon'said container flange f and forming a sealed joint therewith whereby a compression chamber may be formed between the closure and the container, and

means for delivering liquid under pressure 8. In apparatus of the class described, a tank having an annular flange formed on 1ts upper end, a pulp holding container disposed within the tankand provided with a perfo rated bottom and having a flange seated upon said tank flange, a removable closure for the tank resting upon said container flange and compression chamber may be formed beltween the closure and the eontainer,-a rotary spraying device within said compression "forming asealed joint'therewith whereby a chamber, andv means for delivering liquid under pressure to said spraying device.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a

container for. holdin abatch of pulp or the I like includiqg a' per orated bottom, angular sha d arch rated bottom and their'extr'emities resting. upon the bottom ad acent the side wells ofmembers within theeontainer 7 having their middle portions adjacent each other overthe center of the perfo-v the container, and means extending upwardly from the bottom adapted to connect the latter with said arched members.

10. In apparatus of the class'described, a container for holdinga batch of pulp or the like having a perforated bottom, angular shaped arched members within the container having their middle portions disposed adj acent each other over the center of the botmentioned suction pipe, a connection from the pump to said upper chamber, control means in each of said suction pipes whereby to vary the relative amounts of fluid drawn by the pump from above and from below the liquid level in said liquid chamber, a conduit connecting the liquid chamber with said upper pulp chamber, and a pressure relie valve interposed in said conduit.

ULYsEss G. TODD.

inforcing means for the bottom disposed therebeneath, and connecting means adjacent the center of the container between said reinforcing means and said arched frame.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a tank having a compartment arranged to hold a batch of pulp through which liquid is adapted to percolate, a pressure chamber above the pulp compartment, a chamber below the pulp compartment in the bottom of which the crcolating liquid is received, a filter in the ottom of the last mentioned chamber, a pump having a pipe leading to the pressure chamber and suction pipes connected with the pump one of which leads to the filtering device and another to the'upper portion of the lower chamber to tend to produce suction therein beneath the pulp compartment Wherebylto assist in passing the liquid through the P P closed tank, a material holding container therein separating the tank into an upper pul chamber and a lower liquid chamber, sai container having a perforated bottom, a pump, a suction pipe leading from the bottom of said liquid chamber 'to said pump, a second suction pipe leading from the upper end of said liquid chamber to said firstmentioned suction pipe, a connection from the pump to said upper chamber and control means in each of said suction pipes whereby to vary the relative amounts of fluid drawnv by the pump from above and from below. the liquid level in said liquid chamber.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a closed tank, a material holding container therein'separating the tank, into an upper pulp chamber and a lower liquid chamber, said container having a perforated bottom, a pum a suction pipe leading from the bottom 0 said liquid chamber to said pump, a

second suction pipe leading from the up- I I per end of said liquid chamber to said first 13. In apparatus of the class described, a 

